If you’ve attempted dieting or exercising with the intent of losing weight, then you may already be aware of how challenging it can be. Weight loss is not as easy as many celebrities and people make it seem. The average obese person doesn’t plan to become overweight. Also, obesity doesn’t happen overnight. Obesity is so prevalent in the country that many people who are overweight, do not realize it. Those who know they are overweight, tend to overlook their condition due to a lack of knowledge, motivation, or inability to adopt healthier lifestyle habits. Fortunately, at My New Beginning, weight loss surgery and minimally invasive medical weight loss treatments are available.
Types of Weight Loss Surgery
More commonly known as bariatric surgery, the procedure alters the way the body responds or processes food. New Beginnings offers restrictive, malabsorptive, and multidisciplinary weight loss surgery —restrictive and malabsorptive combined. Restrictive surgery changes the capacity of the stomach to lower food intake. Malabsorptive weight loss treatment alters the way the digestive system processes the nutrients from consumed food. Multidisciplinary weight loss incorporates both malabsorptive and restrictive treatment to improve appetite hormone regulation and lower food consumption. When combined with positive dietary and lifestyle changes, patients see optimal results.
Gastric Sleeve
The minimally invasive procedure uses the da Vinci Robotic System to remove a large portion of the stomach to restrict its capacity. To access the stomach, the makes several small incisions in the abdomen. Performing the surgery on the abdomen using the da Vinci robot reduces the amount of trauma to the area and protects the stomach enabling patients to recover faster with minimal discomfort.
Gastric sleeve surgery is not recommended for individuals who have certain health disorders. Sleeve gastric surgery is a restrictive weight loss procedure that leaves the intestines and appetite regulation intact. Within six months, patients lose up to 50 percent or more of their excess weight. A 75 percent reduction in excess weight is ideal at 12 months.
Gastric Bypass/Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
This two-step surgical option is permanent and uses both malabsorptive and restrictive practices to facilitate weight loss. During the procedure, the surgeon alters the shape and size of the stomach and reroutes a portion of the intestines to lower the amount of food patients can comfortably consume. The smaller intestine is attached to the stomach, so food travels a shorter distance and spends less time in the digestive tract.
The procedure effectively lowers calorie and nutrient absorption and increases feelings of fullness, so patients are less inclined to overeat. The most dramatic reduction in weight is evident within three months after the procedure. Gastric bypass patients can expect to lose up to 60 percent of their excess weight within one year.
Gastric Band
Gastric band surgery is a reversible and minimally invasive option that is performed laparoscopically. Small incisions are made into the abdomen so the surgeon can attach a special band around the stomach, creating a small pouch. The band is adjustable so the surgeon can make it larger or smaller throughout the patient’s weight loss journey to help them achieve their ideal/desired weight. Manipulating the size of the upper stomach disrupts the digestion process altering the patient’s capacity for food and appetite sensations. Weight loss results are dependent on the size of the pouch and stomach. Within 12 months, patients lose up to 75 percent of their excess body weight.
Duodenal Switch
This procedure is minimally invasive and performed laparoscopically. To facilitate weight loss, the surgeon removes a large portion of the stomach before reshaping, directing, and attaching the remaining smaller portion to the duodenum/small intestine. Restructuring the stomach and digestive tract disrupts certain digestive enzymes and hormones (Gastrin) to lower acid production in the stomach.
Food in the stomach travels to the small upper portion of the mall intestine before interacting with digestive enzymes from the pancreas and gall bladder. The patient can still eat a normal amount of food, but their body is unable to fully digest it, leading to the absorption of fewer calories and nutrients. Results can provide up to 65 percent reduction excess weight within the first year.
Bariatric Revisions
Revision weight loss surgery is ideal for patients who are unable to achieve their weight loss goals using traditional or alternative bariatric procedures. The procedure corrects or alters previous weight loss procedures. There are many reasons why revisions are necessary, including less than optimal results from previous bariatric procedures, regaining weight or complications from other options, such as ulcers and hiatal hernias.
Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery
Each procedure has specific pros and cons. Our medical weight loss team can help patients understand the benefits and drawbacks of each procedure to help them make informed decisions about their weight loss goals and treatment plan. Weight loss results are dependent on a variety of factors that are not limited to patient health and body profile, diet, and lifestyle. Obesity and other health conditions can impact your ability to lose and maintain a healthy weight. Diets and exercise are not always effective at reducing excess weight alone. However, a good diet and a fair amount of physical activity combined with weight loss surgery are highly effective at helping patients lose weight, keep it off and enjoy happy, healthier, and productive lives.
Bariatric Surgery Risks
Just like any medical procedure, especially surgery, there are risks that can lead to short- and long-term health complications. They include:
- Respiratory issues
- Excessive bleeding
- Inflammation
- Hernias
- Abnormal changes to bowel habits
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Infection
- Malnutrition
- Hair and skin changes
The best way to minimize these risks is to follow the post-operative treatment plan and to adopt healthier eating and lifestyle habits.
Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?
Weight loss surgery may sound appealing, but it’s not for everyone. To qualify, patients must either have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher and certain medical conditions or a BMI of 40 or higher without comorbidities. Contact My New Beginning today to schedule a weight loss surgery consultation to learn options that will help you discover the health and joy of medical weight loss. Our medical weight loss team is more than happy to discuss surgical weight loss candidacy criteria and treatment options that benefit your situation.